Popcorn Panel: 'Amelia'

Get to the Theater

This was a very appealing film about Amelia Earhart's quest to fulfill her lifelong dream of flying. Much of the film is very informative about her personal life as well as the instances she is able to actively fly planes. Both Hilary Swank and Richard Gere have a lot of chemistry on screen, and both seemed to do their roles justice. Some parts of the film do seem a bit subdued, except when Amelia is flying. Her husband G.P. Putnam was instrumental in acquiring suitable planes for her flights, as well as promoting her as a means to generate money to support her aviation adventures. The end of her life was tragic. The mystery surrounding her fatal crash and speculated disappearance in the Pacific still remains obscure.

Helen Chatman,

Oswego resident

Wait for the DVD

"Amelia" does well at re-introducing Amelia Earhart to America, but fails to endear her. Historical artifacts such as Ms. Earhart's influence with President Roosevelt, her worldwide celebrity, and the women's pilots clubs of the 1930s are deservedly unearthed for us to see and appreciate. Meanwhile, her portrait is not of a disagreeable person, but is monochromatic and distant. There is very little tension in this film, very little to impassion us, which is unfortunate and ironic because Ms. Earhart loved flying, loved action, loved life. She had passion for chasing audacious, thrilling dreams. I wanted this film to stir us to chase our own -- but it never quite does.

Paul Grote,

Elgin resident

Skip It

"Amelia," the biopic of famed pilot Amelia Earhart, flew into theaters this weekend and in my opinion, crashed and burned. Hillary Swank is on board for this one and winds up riding coach as the film explores the legendary life and times of the first woman to fly solo around the world. Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor co-star. The dialogue and direction are weak and Swank certainly didn't bring anything new or unique to the role of such a significant historical figure. The only thing about this movie that was remotely enjoyable may have been the breathtaking cinematography. Skip it.

Frank Laraia,

Sugar Grove resident